Joliet's Newest Supermarket Well On Its Way To Being Built

JOLIET, IL — It's been seven long and frustrating years for many residents of Joliet's east side whose shopping plans were dramatically altered in 2016 when Certified Foods closed both of its grocery stores. Although the former Certified on Richards Street has been converted into a drug recovery facility, the empty Certified Foods at 118 East Jackson Street is finally being remodeled this summer. It's turning into an El Guero grocery store.

After several years of inactivity on the site, the construction of the El Guero is one of the biggest redevelopment projects taking place on the city's east side this summer.

Back in February 2019, Joliet Patch reported the El Guero grocery store chain already manages shopping centers and full service supermarkets in six locations, including one in nearby Crest Hill. There are also three El Gueros in Chicago and two in Aurora.

According to Joliet, the new El Guero on Jackson Street will employ a total of 85 people, including 50 full-time jobs. Employees also receive health insurance, the city said.

In April, Joliet Patch reported that Joliet's current economic development director Cesar Suarez asked the economic development committee to update the city of Joliet's tax incentives for El Guero — with an expectation that El Guero will actually be open by April 1, 2024.

"Subsequently, plans were made with an architect to design the improvements, develop site plan and floor plans, and obtain bids. The construction start time ran into and was interrupted by the pandemic. The Garcia family also directed their attention in running their family-owned business to operated six grocery stores in the midst of Covid-19.

"Further delays continued in the construction industry due to supply chain disruptions and material shortages in building materials," Suarez concluded his memo.

The Joliet Council previously approved tax incentives for El Guero in February 2019, but those tax incentives expired on June 1, 2021, because the project never got off the ground.

According to the Suarez memo, the following incentives were previously approved:

• Property Tax Rebate – 50 percent, 5 years – increment expected $4,456, valued at $22,280.
• Sale Tax Rebate – 75 percent for 1 to 3 years, 50 percent for 4 to 15 years, valued at $1,156,000.
• Building Permit Waiver – 100 percent waiver, valued at $90,000.